2025

[Fangs]

Interesting. I think the Raiders are a great chance to go in straight sets, they could easily get Melbourne then us. I don't think their fun attacking footy will hold up to finals style refereeing.

Vulnerable edge defence. They still haven't fixed it up and it will be exploited.

Happy to see them go deeper. Good team to watch and a refreshing change from washed teams like the Roosters.

 

[Chins]

Vulnerable edge defence. They still haven't fixed it up and it will be exploited.

Happy to see them go deeper. Good team to watch and a refreshing change from washed teams like the Roosters.

Ricky makes it hard for me to enjoy them

 

[Fangs]

Ricky makes it hard for me to enjoy them

He is a character.

When he retire pressers won't be the same. Nor will the sideline. Endless highlights.

 

[Munky]

If we are definitely making the eight at the time of the Melbourne game I think both teams will just play to get their kick and put on minimal plays.

Neither coach will want to show anything.

Hell Penrith ran a specific shape in the two finals pre the GF last year just to get the Storm winger to come in on a variation.

Utoikamanu is the most OVERATED forward in the game!

It's between him and Spencer given the hype going into Origin.

I love what Spencer did for us in fifteen minute stints when the starters had already won the middle. But gee he is disappointing when the team isn't dominating.

Terrible ruck defender too.

 

[Fangs]

If we are definitely making the eight at the time of the Melbourne game I think both teams will just play to get their kick and put on minimal plays.

Neither coach will want to show anything.

Hell Penrith ran a specific shape in the two finals pre the GF last year just to get the Storm winger to come in on a variation.

I usually watch early season footage to see if anything like that occurs.



I think we've seen that play at 3.20 done again this year. But I really like it. Through the air instead of along the ground and on the 4th.

EDIT: Here it is again against Brisbane at 0.58.



Both plays the dummy-half looks left but then throws it right. The first video is better Tago and Martin start deeper and are running on the ball so fast. 3rd and 4th tackle too.

 

[soc123_au]

Dogs game I'm expecting an L. They would be filthy to lose the last encounter and will play their grand final in that match. Should be a bumper crowd.

They played their GF against us a month ago, and it broke them. That was the best they have and they knew it. Ivans clutch foot has barely moved all year, they know that too and that there is nothing they can do about it.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Storm will likely make a prelim but i dont see them in the GF - they are very beatable - it wouldnt bother me if we lost against them in a months time - look how that worked out for them in 2024.

Storm are dare i say inconsistent in 2025 - they aren't the fearful Storm the media are making them out to be

they just got home against us (it should have been 20+ win for them)
Dragons beat them the following week
got a lead against the dolphins early and then the dolphins put 40 on them
Raiders got them late in Magic Round
Sharks covered Storm at Cronulla
Storm just get home in golden point against Souths
Manly beat Storm in Melbourne on old boys day

Storm are nothing on their 2024 side - wouldn't surprise me if Storm went out in straight sets this year given the results we've seen so far

I've pointed out similar to this before.

Every team knows the Hughes and Grant dangers but then the Storm goes to Plan A, Katoa.

Manly contained him so Storm went to Plan B, Coates.

Storm has too many bit part players to be more complex than hooker and half playing off the cuff or their current go to guys in Katoa and Coates.

Agree, very beatable this year.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Ricky makes it hard for me to enjoy them

Agree. They have some exciting talent getting stained with Ricky's hard done by bullsh#t attitude...

 

[Frankus]

Interesting. I think the Raiders are a great chance to go in straight sets, they could easily get Melbourne then us. I don't think their fun attacking footy will hold up to finals style refereeing.

Whether we play the Raiders in week 2 or later in the series I still think the side that wins the comp needs to beat them at some point in the finals.

I also agree their style of play may not be as effective in finals footy. Time will tell of course.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Storm will likely make a prelim but i dont see them in the GF - they are very beatable - it wouldnt bother me if we lost against them in a months time - look how that worked out for them in 2024.

Storm are dare i say inconsistent in 2025 - they aren't the fearful Storm the media are making them out to be

they just got home against us (it should have been 20+ win for them)
Dragons beat them the following week
got a lead against the dolphins early and then the dolphins put 40 on them
Raiders got them late in Magic Round
Sharks covered Storm at Cronulla
Storm just get home in golden point against Souths
Manly beat Storm in Melbourne on old boys day

Storm are nothing on their 2024 side - wouldn't surprise me if Storm went out in straight sets this year given the results we've seen so far

Again it wasn't a full strength team they lost players mid game. People are talking like it was full strength storm vs a depleted panthers which isn't true. Weird to watch people lie to themselves like this thread.

 

[Fangs]

They played their GF against us a month ago, and it broke them. That was the best they have and they knew it. Ivans clutch foot has barely moved all year, they know that too and that there is nothing they can do about it.

Yeah but this is round 2 for the Dogs. Filthy they lost no doubt. You don't think they'll go harder in front of a bigger crowd?

And the scenario might be that Penrith has 11 wins in a row by then. We are a very good team but going unbeaten until the final round is highly unlikely to happen.

Maybe none of it will occur and we drop a game in our next three. Would be a shock but its just how it goes in sport. We are trying to peak in September/October and not in August.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

Again it wasn't a full strength team they lost players mid game. People are talking like it was full strength storm vs a depleted panthers which isn't true. Weird to watch people lie to themselves like this thread.

They were running out full strength though right? We had Jenkins playing fullback and Cleary gone after 7 minutes. Yeah they lost Meaney just before half time and Anderson went down after 60mins, but lets not pretend their loses compare to a no Edwards and Cleary team.

They have been pretty ass all season.

 

[Fangs]

Again it wasn't a full strength team they lost players mid game. People are talking like it was full strength storm vs a depleted panthers which isn't true. Weird to watch people lie to themselves like this thread.

The loss of Cleary was the talking point out of that match. It was the difference in our loss to Melbourne in round 24 in 2024 as well.

Just look at the spines that night:

Papenhuyzen V Jenkins
Munster v Cole
Hughes v Cleary/Tailagi?
Grant v Kenny

Massive difference. Melbourne could have afforded to have half that spine injured mid-game and should still have won in a canter.

Anyway round 3 form matters little come the back end of the year.

 

[BxTom]

I am expecting a big choke/slide by the Raiders. 4, 3, 2, 1...

 

[Panther Pete]

I am expecting a big choke/slide by the Raiders. 4, 3, 2, 1...

Me too. And no doubt when they crumble it will all be the refs fault according to Ricky.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

It would be a massive choke for the Raiders to fail from this point.
They have Knights, Dragons, Tigers and a bye. The only solid teams they play are the Dolphins, Manly and us.